CCTV Footage Reveals Final Moments Before Deadly Arson at Utumishi Girls School as Last Suspect Arrested

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested the last girl linked to the fatal fire at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County. The arrest follows the release of graphic CCTV footage that captured the sequence of events inside the dormitory on May 28.

The video, broadcast by local media, shows blurry figures moving through Cube 11, an area with bunk beds. According to the narration, the students carried materials and moved quickly within a roughly ten-minute window. They paused to consult before proceeding to another section where firewood was present.

Footage indicates some students remained behind briefly while others headed toward the exit. Smoke then built rapidly, filling the space and reducing visibility. The presenter described how the fire spread as the group appeared to fan the flames before fleeing.

Sixteen students died, mostly from smoke inhalation, with many others injured. The school, run under police oversight, houses senior secondary students in boarding facilities located about 120 kilometres northwest of Nairobi.

This latest arrest brings the number of identified suspects to seven. The girl had been released to her parents earlier but disappeared, leading to a search that ended in Njoro as she headed to church.

Public shock has been widespread. Many Kenyans have questioned how students could allegedly plan and execute such an act against sleeping peers. The footage has intensified calls for accountability at multiple levels.

From a building perspective, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety in Kenyan boarding schools. Dormitories like this one often feature compact layouts with bunk beds arranged in tight rows. Limited exits and basic construction materials can allow smoke to spread fast once a fire starts.

Experts familiar with school infrastructure note that older facilities frequently lack modern fire suppression systems, adequate ventilation, or clear escape routes. The rapid smoke buildup seen in the Cube 11 footage underscores these vulnerabilities.

Rescue efforts involved the Kenya Red Cross and local emergency teams. Parents described scenes of chaos as they tried to locate their children. Some bodies were badly burnt, delaying identification.

Investigators continue examining motives. No official explanation has emerged for why the group allegedly targeted the dormitory. The arrested students are held at different stations while probes deepen.

The tragedy has renewed focus on construction standards for educational buildings across Kenya. Boarding schools, in particular, require robust fire-resistant designs and regular safety audits. Cases like this often expose gaps between regulatory requirements and on-ground implementation.

Local media reports indicate eight students were initially detained, with six clearly identified on camera. The final suspect's brief disappearance had complicated the case before her recapture.

As the investigation proceeds, authorities have withheld further details on potential charges. The video evidence, however, provides a stark visual record of the critical minutes before the blaze became uncontrollable.

This case adds to a troubling pattern of school fires in Kenya over the years. It raises fresh questions about whether current building practices adequately protect students in high-density sleeping environments.